- Mishra has earned a name for his unique approach in solving complex cases

RAKESH K. SINGH

The mediation centre revived by the judge. Picture by Sanjay Srivastava

Chhapra, Dec. 10: Vijay Prakash Mishra, district and sessions judge, is a judge with a difference who believes in cohesion in society and family.

Mishra, who has already earned a name in the judicial field, has already taken novel initiatives in the past seven months at the district.

He has revived the mediation centre in the district that was lying defunct to reunite 217 families. So far, he has made 217 married couples meet and resolve their differences and get back together.

He told The Telegraph people hardly knew about the existence of the mediation centre when he became the district and sessions judge so he activated to help reunite families. He said several cases were lodged by wives under section 498a (Dowry Prohibition Act) against their families. However, when the man’s family went to him with bail petition, he made the couple meet at the centre to talk and bury their differences. “When two person meet and try to understand each other, the outcome of such meetings are positive most of the times,” said Mishra.

Mishra said: “I believe in playing a pro-active role. There are many provisions for people’s relief and the media should play an important role to make the people aware of these provisions.” Not only has Mishra united families.

As chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, he has also taken a lot of initiatives for the welfare of people who are mentally ill. He has been ensuring that mentally ill people are made aware of their rights.

He is also working towards making people aware about their responsibility towards the mentally ill people under the provisions of law. He said all the police station in-charges have been ordered to identify mentally ill persons in their respective areas and produce them before the chief judicial magistrate within 24 hours.

The magistrate would then diagnose the person’s health with the help of a doctor and order to keep him in a mental hospital. “The relative of the patient would be entrusted to his care and would be required to fill a bond,” he said. Mishra added the police station in-charge would inform the chief judicial magistrate if he gets information that a mentally ill person has faced any kind of torture. The person would be provided legal help and an advocate on government cost will be pressed into service. He said if court’s order is disobeyed, the errant person would have to pay a fine of Rs 2,000.

Mishra has also made it mandatory for his judicial officers to go the badminton court and keep them fit.

He is a regular at the court himself. “Judicial officers are taxed mentally. If they remain physically fit and healthy they would be able to discharge their duties efficiently.”

He added: “Those who know the game must play and those who do not must learn the game. You have to sweat it out to relax your mind and body.”